Spatial Genetic Structure and Diversity of Large Yellow Croaker (Larimichthys crocea) from the Southern Yellow Sea and North-Central East China Sea: Implications for Conservation and Stock Enhancement

As a wild resource, the large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea has been seriously threatened since mid-1980s. Owing to implementation of protection measures, such as establishment zone, fishing prohibitions, restocking programs and successful mariculture, its resources have gradually recovered year by year. Limited low spatial resolution incomplete coverage sampling stations, genetic structure diversity croakers from southern Yellow Sea north-central East China remains unclear. In order evaluate status this stock, 22 sites were collected analyzed investigating variability population using mitochondrial COI sequence in study. Among 662 sequences, total 71 different haplotypes defined. The haplotype (h) nucleotide (π) values 0.644~1.000 0.00220~0.00473 respectively. highest h π occurred (YS). AMOVA analysis showed no differentiation among those after Bonferroni correction. By comparing with previous studies, maintained relatively steady recent years. Our result also suggested that South belonged same group. Thus, they can be released management unit without regard for heterogenicity sea area. YS populations serve parents fish fries Sea.